Positioning,spacing and supporting device



Oct. 14, 1969 D. F. YELSMA 3,471,987

POSITIONING, SPACING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1967 INVENTOR Delbert Y. Yelsmu Fig.7 y/fiwm NEYE United States Patent 3,471,987 POSITIGNING, SPACING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE Delbert F. Yelsma, 10119 Estacado, Dallas, Tex. 75228 Filed Nov. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 684,782 Int. Cl. 1304c 5/20 US. Cl. 52684 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for positioning, spacing, and supporting an elongate member from a reference surface including an arcuate resilient saddle for receiving the elongate member and legs for supporting the saddle in spaced relationship from the surface, such as the ground, a wall surface of a concrete form and the like.

This invention relates to positioning, spacing, and supporting devices and more particularly relates to devices for spacing and supporting an elongate member from a reference surface.

It is a particularly important object of this invention to provide a new and improved device for positioning, spacing, and supporting an elongate member from a reference surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide a spacer or chair for spacing and supporting an elongate member from a reference surface within material such as concrete, Styrofoam, ash, and the like during the deposition of the material around the member in fiowable form and which spacer or chair remains permanently within the material after it is set.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which includes a saddle or receptacle engageable on an elongate member and supporting means, such as legs, connected with the saddle for supporting the saddle and the member disposed therethrough spaced from a reference surface engaged With the free ends of the legs.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described having a clip-on type C- shaped saddle portion releasably engageable on an elongate member and having legs secured with the saddle and extending therefrom perpendicular to the axis of the member to support the saddle and member spaced from a surface engaged by the free ends of the legs.

In accordance with another object of the invention the saddle portion of the device is sufficiently resilient to accommodate it to a range of elongate member sizes and includes radially inwardly extending flanges along its free ends for retaining the bar in the saddle and radially outwardly extending flanges for guiding the member into the saddle.

In accordance with a further object of the invention one form of the device has legs extending divergently from the saddle and connected together near their free ends by a brace member.

In accordance with a further object of the invention an alternate form of the device includes a leg brace having cut away portions to improve the movement of flowable material around the device between the legs and the brace and a surface engaged by the free ends of the le s.

In accordance with a still further object of the invention another alternate form of the device includes free end edges on the saddle legs having cut away portions reducing the free end edge surfaces on the legs which engage a form surface from which the elongate member is spaced and thereby minimizes the portions of the leg 3,471,987 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 ends exposed at a surface of material such as concrete after the forms are removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of supporting and spacing an elongate member from a reference surface including securing the saddle portion of a device of the character described on the elongate member and aligning the device with its leg end surfaces engaging the reference surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide 'a new and improved method of forming a molded structure of material such as concrete, plastic, and the like, including supporting an elongate member by means of a device having a receptacle through which the member extends and means for supporting the receptacle spaced from a surface, pouring the material, such as the concrete, or plastic, over the elongate member and the supporting and spacing device, and permitting the material to set leaving the elongate member and supporting and spacing device permanently imbedded Within the molded structure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described particularly adapted to supporting and spacing reinforcing bars from a ground surface or a form surface during the pouring of concrete around the bar and which device remains permanently within the concrete after it sets.

In accordance with a further object of the invention supporting and spacing devices of the character described are secured to an elongate member at suitable spaced positions along the member to space and support the memb er from a reference surface.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a modified form of device of the character described having legs provided with weakened end portions which are readily removable for adjusting the leg lengths to accommodate the device to support an elongate member at a desired predetermined spaced relationship with a surface.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described formed of a material which resists deterioration, such as rusting, and thus may remain permanently within a molded material such as concrete or the like.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the character described formed of an extrudable material whereby the device may be produced in large quantities economically.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which snaps or clips on an elongate member thereby eliminating any need for tying or otherwise securing it to the member substantially reducing the time, effort, and materials required to position the devices on elongate members.

The invention therefore relates to a spacer and support device for holding an elongate member spaced from a reference surface, said device being adapted to be formed of plastic material by the extrusion process and having a substantially tubular support saddle member with resilient arms and guide and latch means on the resilient swingable ends thereof engageable with the elongate member to be supported, and having a pair of planar divergent lengs and a planar cross brace between the legs near the free ends thereof, said legs and brace lying in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the saddle member, whereby the device is adapted to be formed by extrusion as well as by molding. Transverse notches are provided in the legs of one form of the device to permit a portion of the legs to be detached. The brace is provided with recesses, and the free ends of the legs are provided with nonlinear or serrated edges in other forms to permit more complete enclosure of the device in a surrounding material. The ends edges of the legs are preferably convergent from their free ends to and including the saddle member.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a positioning, spacing, and supporting device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an alternate form of device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of another alternate form of device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation, partly in section, showing the device of FIGURE 1 holding an elongate member supported and spaced above a surface of a ground section;

FIGURE 4A is a fragmentary end elevation, partly in section, similar to FIGURE 4, showing the device holding a member of increased diameter;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation showing the device and elongate member of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a reduced side elevation, partly in section, showing a pair of the spacing and supporting devices holding a reinforcing bar spaced from the surface of the ground within a body of material such as concrete poured on the ground surface covering the bar and devices; and,

FIGURE 7 is a transverse section of a form for pouring a vertical column of concrete or the like using devices embodying the invention for holding vertically disposed reinforcing rods spaced from the inside wall surfaces of the form.

Referring to the drawings, a chair or spacing and supporting device embodying the invention for use in spacing and supporting an elongate member from a reference surface includes a U-shaped saddle or receptacle 21 having a pair of legs 22 which extend from the saddle in divergent relationship toward the free ends of the legs. The saddle is formed of a suitable resilient material so that it is engageable on an elongate member 23 to grip and support the member in spaced relationship from a surface, such as the surface 24 of a ground section 25, FIGURES 4 and 5, or the internal form surfaces as shown in FIGURE 7.

The device 20 provides a means for holding elongate members such as reinforcing bars, pipes, and the like, spaced from a surface within a form during the pouring and setting of material such as cement, plastic, and the like, surrounding the elongate member and the spacer and support device. The elongate member and support remain permanently within the material after it has set. The spacer and support device also provides a means for supporting and spacing such elongate members as heating pipes, water pipes, electrical conduits, and similar members, from surfaces such as along walls, floors and ceilings.

The supporting and spacing device is formed of any suitable material including metals and such substances as plastics and other flexible materials which have sufficient strength to support the desired elongate member, and flexible enough for the saddle arms to spring open for inserting the elongate member in the saddle and back partially closed for holding the member in the saddle, which do not adversely affect the ultimate strength or setting time of a material in which they are embedded, and which will not deteriorate by such means as rusting within the material so that they main remain permanently therein. Further, the devices may be formed of an ex-' trudable material so that they may be manufactured economically in large quantities.

The arcuate saddle portion 21 of the device 20 is an open-sided tubular segment or channel circumferentially encompassing a major arcuate portion of the elongate member 23. The saddle has resilient free side portions or arms which are each provided with radially inwardly extending longitudinal retainer flanges 31 each engageable along a longitudinal inner edge 32 with the outer surface of the member to aid in holding the member within the saddle. The arms of the saddle also have radially outwardly extending longitudinal guide flanges 33 which with the flanges 31 provide inwardly convergent guide flange surfaces 34 which guide the member into the saddle and cam the arms of the saddle outwardly forcing them apart from each other thereby spreading the saddle open to permit entry of the member. After the member 23 is forced into the saddle the arms and the flanges 32 contract to hold the member in the saddle. The diameter of the internal recess portion 35 of the saddle in which the member is disposed is variable due to the resilience of the arms. The widths of the retainer flanges 31 which spread to accommodate various sizes of elongate members and the relative arcuate length of the saddle determine the minimum and maximum size member tightly engaged by the saddle. Obviously, the saddle must not be so loose on a member that when positioned on a vertical member as in FIGURE 7 it will slide down the member. Also, when positioned on either a horizontal or vertical member or on a member extending at angles between the horizontal and vertical the support must remain in position while material such as concrete flows around the bar and support. The saddle portion of the support has opposite end edge surfaces 40 which converge toward each other toward the arms 30 of the saddle so that the arms of the saddle are narrower as measured along the longitudinal axis of the saddle and are thus somewhat more flexible than the main body of the saddle for insertion of an elongate member.

The divergent saddle legs 22 are formed integral with the saddle with side edge surfaces 41 which diverge toward the free ends of the legs at substantially the same angle of divergence as edge surfaces 40 of the saddle, FIGURE 5. The free ends of the legs have supporting end edge surfaces 42 which lie in a plane extending substantially perpendicular to a line bisecting the angle of divergence of the legs so that the end edges 42 substantially conform to a planar surface supporting the device, such as the ground surface 24 or an inner surface of a form as shown in FIGURE 7. Also, when the leg ends extend to a surface of a body of material molded around the supports, as in the column form of FIGURE 7, the leg end edge surfaces 42 are flush with the surface of the material when the forms are removed. A web or brace member 43 is formed integral with the legs extending between the free end portions 22a of the legs and spaced vertically slightly from the free end edge surfaces 42. The brace 43 has cut-away portions or recesses 44 along opposite side edges to permit material to flow more readily around the brace and between it and a surface engaged by the free ends of the legs, such as the ground surface 24.

The device 20 has numerous applications for spacing and supporting an elongate member such as a reinforcing rod, a tube, and the like, from a surface as within a form in the molding of reinforced structures of concrete, plastic, and the like. FIGURE 6 illustrates the use of the support for holding a reinforcing rod, :1 tube, and the like spaced above the surface of the ground in the pouring of sidewalks, streets, floors, and the like.

A preferred method of placing an elongate member along a desired line supported and spaced from a surface includes securing the devices 20 on the member preliminary to positioning the member along the desired line. For example, the saddle portions of the devices are snapped or clipped as already described on the rod at the desired spaced intervals. The member is placed along the desired line and a workman follows the member clipping the devices 20 at desired intervals along the length of the member aligning each device vertically with its leg end edge surfaces resting on the ground surface along the desired line. While the saddle of each device grips the reinforcing rods tightly enough to effect the desired function, the saddle is rotatable on the rod so each device is readily moved around the elongate member to align it properly for supporting the member from the ground or a form surface.

The number of the devices 20 used for a particular elongate member is partly dependent upon the flexibility of the member and thus the sag of the member between the device members. It is preferred that the member 23 be supported spaced substantially parallel with the ground surface so that the devices 20 are used in sufficient number to prevent any appreciable sagging of the member. In the case of reinforcing rods, where several rods are aligned in generally parallel relationship and where additional rods are spaced and supported in lateral directions in a form, the rods may be tied together by suitable means, such as by the use of wires or the like, not shown, to aid in holding the rods in place laterally and longitudinally.

Alternately, a plurality of the devices 20 may be placed in spaced relation along the ground surface 24 aligned along a line along which the member 23 is to extend. Each of the devices is positioned on the ground with its leg end surfaces 42 supported on the ground surface and the axis of the saddle of the support in alignment generally with the line to be followed by the elongate member. The member is laid on the device disposed between and resting on the flange surfaces 34 of the arms of the saddle of each support. The member is pressed downwardly to force it fully into the recess 35 of the saddle of each device.

After the desired number of reinforcing rods or other elongate members have been placed on the ground surface within the form, not shown, the material such as plastic or concrete 45 is poured on the surface of the ground within such forms, over the members 23, and the devices 20 until the material is at the desired depth. The devices 20 maintain the members 23 spaced above the ground surface during the pouring of the material 45 and while the material is setting. The spacing and supporting devices remain permanently with the material 45 attached on the member 23 after the material is set.

Another typical application of the spacing and supporting devices 20 is for spacing reinforcing bars, tubes, and the like, within forms for pouring members such as vertical columns and the like, as illustrated in FIGURE 7. A form 50 for a square vertical column, not shown, includes four vertical side panels 51 secured together in a square configuration providing internal vertical side wall surfaces 52 for forming the vertical side surfaces of the column when the material forming the column is poured into the form. A nest or set 50a of vertically disposed interconnected reinforcing bars or tubes 23 is centrally spaced within the form by a plurality of the devices 20. The bars are tied together by wires 53 in the usual way. A plurality of the devices 20 are clipped along the length of each of the outer bars for holding the set of bars spaced with the form. The devices 20 may be aligned in rows along each bar and the rows aligned with each other so that the leg end edge surfaces 42 of the supports along each side of the set of bars are in a common plane parallel to such side so that when the form is erected enclosing the bars the inside wall surface 52 of the form panel parallel to each side of the set of bars is engaged by the leg end surfaces of the supports on such side. Obviously, the devices 20 on the corner bars 23, as in the square configuration shown, may be aligned to engage either of the adjacent panel surfaces 52. In the specific arrangement of FIGURE 7, the devices 20 are aligned in three vertical rows down two opposite sides of the column and a single vertical row down the other two opposite sides of the column. Various other arrangements of the device 20 may be used depending upon the number of the elongate members 23 employed and the shape of the form enclosing them.

After the form 50 is assembled around the member 23 and the device 20 as shown in FIGURE 7, the material forming the column is poured into the form 50 in the usual manner. The material flows within the form panels over all of the wires 53, the reinforcing rods 23, and the supports 20 completely surrounding the entire reinforcing structure 50a within the form. The group of reinforcing rods is held at a central position spaced within the form by the devices 20 While the material sets. After the material is set, the form 50 is removed and the leg end surfaces 42 of each of the devices 20 are exposed along each of the faces of the column formed by the inner wall panel surfaces 52 of the form. The devices 20 remain permanently within the column with a minimum portion of their leg structure exposed along the side faces of the column.

FIGURE 2 shows an alternate form of device 200 embodying the invention used where it is desired that one or more end portions 22a of the legs 22 of the support be removed for either adjusting the length of one or both legs or where it is desired to eliminate exposure of leg end surfaces through a body of material such as concrete in which the device is embedded. The device 20a is identical to the device 20, as already described, in all features except that the legs of the device 20a are each provided with spaced external V-shaped notches 0r grooves 60 opening outwardly in the outer face of each leg and extending substantially parallel to the free end edge surface 42 of the leg. The notch 60 in each leg weakens the structure of the leg so that one or more of the end portions 22a of each leg is easily broken off along a line defined by a notch 60 and substantially aligned with the bottom face of the brace 43. The modified support 20a preferably is used in pouring molded structures, such as a vertical column molded in a form structure of the type shown in FIGURE 7, where the free end edge of each support leg would normally be exposed through a surface of the column. A column is formed with the device 20a as already discussed so that when the forms panels are removed the end edge surfaces 42 of the legs of the device are exposed through a face of the column and end portions 22a are broken off and removed. The end portion 22a breaks off along a notch 60 leaving a void in the column surface which is then grouted so that the surface may be painted or otherwise finished to cover Ehe end edge surfaces of the supports 20a in the column ace.

Another application of the support and spacing device 20a is where a grade level change as in the ground surface 24 and thus the legs 22 of the device required adjustment in length to support an elongate member at the desired spaced relationship above the ground surface.

Another modified form 2012 of the spacer and support device shown in FIGURE 3 has non-linear leg end edge surfaces comprising serrated or spaced V-shaped recesses 71 providing spaced points 72 along the free end portion of each leg. Also, the device 20b has a solid plate form of cross brace 43b between the legs. All other features of the device 20 are identical to and denoted by the same reference numerals as the device 20 of FIGURE 1, already described. The notched leg ends provides minimum exposure of the free end edges of the legs which such ends are within an exposed surface of a molded member poured using the bar supports, as in the case of a vertical column as poured in the form and reinforcing arrangement of FIGURE 7. After the forms have been removed from a molded member using the device 20b, only the free end edge points 72 are visible along the exposed wall surface of the finished molded member. Additionally, the notches 71 in the leg permit improved material flow around each leg along the surface 52 of a form panel as in FIGURE 7.

An especially important aspect of the invention is the adaptability of the spacer and support device to mass production methods. The general A-shape of the device permits the extrusion of long strips which are then cut into segments to provide each device. Extrusion is particularly suited to forming the long A-shaped strips when various plastics are used for the device. Thus, large quantities of the device may be manufactured quickly and economically.

It will now be seen that a new and improved spacer and support device for spacing and supporting an elongate member has been described and illustrated.

It will be further seen that the device holds reinforcing rods, tubes, conduits, and the like, spaced from a surface during the pouring and setting of a molded member of concrete, plastic, and the like, and remains within the member after it has set without affecting the setting characteristics and the final strength of the molded material after it has set.

It will be further seen that the support device includes a saddle or C-shaped receptacle adapted to clip on an elongate member and having supporting legs holding the saddle and the elongate member disposed therethrough spaced from a surface engaged by the free ends of the legs.

It will also be seen that the saddle has flexible arm portions provided with guiding and retaining flanges for guiding an elongate member into and retaining it in the saddle.

It will also be seen that the saddle is an open sided and open ended tubular segment or C-shaped member through which an elongate member is disposed with its axis substantially coincident with the axis of the saddle and that the saddle is sufficiently flexible to permit it to accommodate a range of sizes of elongate members.

It will be further seen that one form of the spacer and support device has a cross-brace between divergently extending legs and provided with recess portions to facilitate pouring a moldable material around the support.

Another form of the device includes legs having free ends portions provided with longitudinal grooves or slots for weakening the legs whereby the free end portions are removed so that the free end edges of the legs are not exposed through concrete structure surfaces and for adjusting the lengths of the legs. A further form of the support has legs with free edges notched so that there is minimum surfaces of the legs in a concrete structure having exposed surfaces penetrated by the free end of the support legs.

It will also be seen that a new and improved method of forming a molded structure has been described and illustrated including spacing and supporting elongate reinforcing means in spaced relationship from a surface by means of spacing and supporting devices having saddle portions encompassing and engaging the reinforcing means and legs supporting the saddle portion from the surface, pouring a fiowable material for forming the molded structure over the reinforcing means and support device surrounding both the reinforcing means and the support devices, and permitting the flowable material to set-up leaving the reinforcing means and support devices within the molded structure.

It will be further seen that a new and improved method of supporting an elongate member from a reference surface has been described and illustrated including engaging on the elongate member a spacing and support device having a saddle portion encompassing and engaging the elongate member and legs for supporting the saddle portion from the reference surface, and aligning the support device and engaging the free ends of the legs of the device with the surface for supporting the saddle portion and the elongate member disposed therethrough at a desired spaced position relative to the surface.

It will be further seen that the spacer and support device may be formed of an extrudable, rust resistant, material whereby large quantities of the device are manufactured economically and the device may remain within materials such as concrete over long periods of time without deterioration.

It will be further seen that the device clips on an elongate member thereby eliminating the need for tying it on the member and reducing installation time and materials.

It will be further seen that the device may be used for a wide variety of spacing and supporting functions such as the holding and spacing reinforcing rods for reinforced concretes, plastics, and the like, within a mold in the forming of molded structures, and for supporting electrical and other types of conduits from any desired surface such as walls, floors, and ceilings, it is preferred that the supported member not contact a surface along which it extends.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A spacer and support device for holding an elongate member spaced from a reference surface; said device ineluding a substantially tubular saddle member having a longitudinal axis and smooth inner and outer surfaces concentric with said axis, said saddle member having a longitudinal opening providing a pair of resilient snap arms for holding said elongate member, said arms having free ends along said opening adapted to spring apart to admit said elongate member to said saddle member; a radially inwardly extending substantially planar retainer flange extending longitudinally of said opening of said tubular saddle member, one along the free end of each snap arm and converging inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said saddle member for retaining said elongate member within said saddle member; a substantially planar radially outwardly extending guide flange extending longitudinally of said opening of said tubular saddle member, one along the free end of each said snap arm and diverging outwardly from said arms in substantially co-planar relationship with the adjacent retainer flange and the longitudinal axis of said saddle member for guiding said elongate member through said longitudinal opening into said saddle member; a pair of planar legs secured with said saddle member on the side thereof opposite the longitudinal opening and extending divergently therefrom in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of said saddle member, said legs having free end supporting edge surfaces disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said saddle member whereby said elongate member is supported substantially parallel with the surface from which said member is spaced by said support device; and a planar cross brace spaced substantially from said saddle member and extending between said legs near and in a plane parallel to the free end edge surfaces thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular saddle member and providing a large opening between said legs between said saddle member and said brace, said brace having side edge recesses formed therein for improving fluid flow around said legs and said brace in said opening between said legs and along a surface engaged by the free ends of said legs; the edge surfaces of said legs and said saddle member extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tubular saddle member being disposed in planes which converge from the free edge surfaces of said legs toward the outer edges of the guide flanges on the resilient arms of said saddle member whereby said arms of said saddle member are more resilient toward their free ends than adjacent the connection with said legs.

2. A spacer and support device as defined in claim 1 wherein said free end portions of said legs have an edge supporting surface of non-linear configuration formed therein whereby a minimum surface portion of said free end edge of said legs is exposed at a surface of a body containing said support device to which said free ends of said legs extend.

3. A spacer and support device for holding an elongate member spaced from a reference surface; said device including a substantially tubular saddle member having a longitudinal axis and smooth inner and outer surfaces concentric with said axis, said saddle member having a longitudinal opening providing a pair of resilient snap arms for holding said elongate member, said arms having free ends along said opening adapted to spring apart to admit said elongate member to said saddle member; a radially inwardly extending substantially planar retainer flange extending longitudinally of said opening of said tubular saddle member, one along the free end of each snap arm and converging inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said saddle member for retaining said elongate member within said saddle member; a substantially planar radially outwardly extending guide flange extending longitudinally of said opening of said tubular saddle member, one along the free end of each said snap arm and diverging outwardly from said arms in substantially co-planar relationship with the adjacent retainer flange and the longitudinal axis of said saddle member for guiding said elongate member through said longitudinal opening into said saddle member; a pair of planar legs secured with said saddle member on the side thereof opposite the longitudinal opening and extending divergently therefrom in planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of said saddle member, said legs having free end supporting edge surfaces disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said saddle member whereby said elongate member is supported substantially parallel with the surface from which said member is spaced by said support device; and a planar cross brace spaced substantially from said saddle member and extending between said legs near and in a plane parallel to the free end edge surfaces thereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular saddle member and providing a large opening between said legs between said saddle member and said brace, said brace having side edge recesses formed therein for improving fluid flow around said legs and said brace along a surface engaged by said free ends of said legs, each of said legs being provided with a side face notch extending along a lateral planar surface of said leg substantially parallel with the plane of the free end edge surface of said leg whereby a free end portion of said leg is detachable from the remaining portion of said leg.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,107 12/1914 Darr 52684 2,409,342 10/ 1946 Cassidy 52684 3,209,509 10/1965 OCallaghan 52309 3,233,383 2/1966 Salm 52687 3,348,347 10/1967 Berry 52309 FOREIGN PATENTS 233,066 1/1961 Australia. 1,477,159 3/ 1967 France.

986,450 3/ 1965 Great Britain.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

